Universal spill proof cap

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are novel universal spill proof caps for after market use.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to closures, and more particularly to adispensing valve closure for universal use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A number of packages exist for containing materials that flow (generallyreferred to herein as “fluids”), such as beverages. These packages arefilled with the fluids through openings, such as that provided at thefinish area of bottles. These openings are then sealed for distributionof the packages. The sealing is generally done with a closure, of whichthere are a large number of different types.

In the beverage industry, closures used for many packages, includingbottles, are generally of the screw-on type, and may be repeatedlyremoved and resealed. Recently, however, an increasing number ofbeverage closures include dispensing valves that allow the beverages toflow through the closure for consumption, without removal of theclosure. The most widely used dispensing closure is the pull-pushdispensing closure, similar to that used on many liquid dish-washingsoap packages. The pull-push closure, however, has significantdrawbacks. For example, it requires the user to manually pull the spoutopen and closed. Also, if the user does not close the spout, the packagewill leak, since the spout has no valve to automatically reseal.

Therefore, a need has arisen for a dispensing valve closure that isself-sealing (also referred to as self-closing), and that is suitablefor use universally in the beverage industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, there is disclosed a sealing and dispensing closure for anoutlet opening of a container containing a consumable beverage, andcomprising a) a closure body adapted to be assembled to the outletopening of the container, said closure body including a tubular spout ofsubstantial height and which is adapted to communicate with the outletopening of the container and through which the liquid contained in thecontainer is adapted to be dispensed, b) a self sealing dispensing valvewhich includes a marginal annular flange, and which is movable bypressure within the container between a closed position and an openposition: and c) means mounting said self sealing dispensing valve belowsaid spout and including an inwardly facing annular surface below saidspout, with said marginal annular flange of said valve overlying saidannular surface, an annular shoulder below said spout, and an annularretaining ring supported by said annular shoulder below said spout andengaging the side of the marginal annular flange opposite the annularsurface. There is also disclosed a closure as defined in claim 1,wherein the closure body further includes an internally threaded sleevewhich is adapted to be threadedly joined to the outlet opening of thecontainer and which has a predetermined axial height, and wherein saidspout has a height which at least equals about one half thepredetermined axial height of the sleeve. There is also disclosed aclosure wherein the diameter of the spout is substantially less than thediameter of the threaded sleeve, and wherein the spout is coaxiallyjoined to the threaded sleeve by means of a generally flat annularflange. There is also disclosed a closure further comprising a flexibleliner positioned within the threaded sleeve of the closure body forsealably engaging the outlet opening of the container when the closureis threadedly assembled thereon. There is also disclosed a container forcontaining and dispensing a consumable beverage and comprising: a) acontainer having a flexible body portion and an externally threadedoutlet opening, b) a sealing and dispensing closure joined to the outletopening of the container and comprising (i) a closure body whichincludes a tubular spout of substantial height and which communicateswith the outlet opening of the container and through which the liquidcontained in the container is adapted to be dispensed, said spout havingan internal bore which includes an inwardly facing annular surface andan annular shoulder spaced below said annular surface, (ii) a selfsealing dispensing valve mounted below said spout and being movable byeither external or internal pressure on the container between a closedposition and an open position, said self-sealing dispensing valveincluding a marginal flange overlying said annular surface, and (iii) anannular retaining ring supported by said annular shoulder and engagingthe side of the marginal flange opposite the annular surface. There isalso disclosed a package wherein said outlet opening of said containeris externally threaded, and wherein said closure body includes aninternally threaded sleeve which is threadedly joined to the outletopening of the container. There is also disclosed a closure wherein thethreaded sleeve of the closure body has a predetermined axial height,and wherein said spout has a height which at least equals about one halfthe predetermined axial height of the sleeve. There is also disclosed aclosure wherein the diameter of the spout is substantially less than thediameter of the threaded sleeve, and wherein the spout is coaxiallyjoined to the threaded sleeve by means of a generally flat annularflange. There is also disclosed a closure wherein the self sealingdispensing valve is configured so as to assume a generally downwardlyconcave configuration which is wholly below the spout. There is alsodisclosed a sealing and dispensing closure for an outlet opening of aflexible container containing a consumable beverage, and comprising aclosure body including an internally threaded sleeve which is adapted tobe threadedly joined to the outlet opening of the container and whichhas a predetermined axial height, and a tubular spout extending axiallyoutwardly from the threaded sleeve a substantial distance and which isadapted to communicate with the outlet opening of the container andthrough which the liquid contained in the container is adapted to bedispensed, a self sealing dispensing valve mounted below said spout, andwhich is movable by pressure between a closed position and an openposition. There is also disclosed a closure, wherein said spout has anaxial height which is at least about one half the predetermined axialheight of the sleeve. There is also disclosed a closure wherein thediameter of the spout is substantially less than the diameter of thethreaded sleeve, and wherein the spout is coaxially joined to thethreaded sleeve by means of a generally flat annular flange. There isalso disclosed a closure, wherein the self sealing dispensing valve isconfigured so as to assume a generally downwardly concave configurationwhich is wholly below the spout. There is also disclosed a closurewherein said spout extends axially outwardly from the threaded sleeve adistance which is at least about one half the predetermined axial heightof the threaded sleeve.

In another aspect of the invention there is disclosed a flexible linerpositioned within the threaded sleeve of the closure body for sealablyengaging the outlet opening of the container when the closure isthreadedly assembled thereon.

There is also disclosed a universal spill proof cap sold as an aftermarket product with packaging. It will be appreciated that packagingencompasses blister packaging, shrink wrap, clam shell, poly bagging andthe like.

Plastic bottles didn't come out until recently. They existed on only afew beverages. Surprisingly valve in spout makes for an uncomfortabledrinking design. Valve below spout allows spout to be a more contouredcomfortable shape for drinking. Also, a bigger valve can be used belowspout so the flow rate of fluid is faster not a struggle to get out.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, aself-sealing dispensing valve closure is provided which substantiallyreduces or eliminates disadvantages and problems associated with priorart dispensing valves.

In particular, a sealing and dispensing device for a package thatcontains a fluid is provided. A closure is provided which is shaped toengage with the package. A self-sealing dispensing valve is disposedwithin the closure.

This device is particularly suited to the food and beverage industry,and in particular for fluids or drinks. It should be understood thatthis illustration is exemplary only, and the present invention may beused with a wide range of foods, beverages, and other fluids, includingteas, juices, fruit drinks, water, and flavored water, among many otherfluids.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Self-sealing dispensing valve may be any suitable self-sealingdispensing valve. A particular example of a self-sealing dispensingvalve that may be used is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,213,236,5,377,877, 5,339,995, 5,409,144, 5,439,134 and 5,839,614, all of whichare hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The self-sealingdispensing valve may be formed from a resiliently flexible material, andin particular may be formed from a silicone rubber that is substantiallyinert, thus avoiding deleterious reaction with the food, beverage, orother fluid to be dispensed.

The self-sealing dispensing valve allows fluid to be dispensed byincreasing the external or internal pressure within the package, or, forexample, through squeezing of the package or applying suction to theopening of the spout. Once the pressure is released, the valveautomatically seals, thus preventing leaking.

As will be discussed in detail below, self-sealing dispensing valve isdisposed below boss and held in place by retaining ring or other device,such as a cartridge.

The spout is formed with an internal bore to allow fluid to pass throughthe self sealing dispensing valve and to the user.

It should be understood that the particular shape of closure, closurebody and the spout are exemplary only, and other structures may be usedwithout departing from the intended scope of the present invention. Theterm “closure” is used herein to refer to any such structures, alone orin combination.

Structures may assist in holding the marginal flange thereby reducingthe likelihood that the self-sealing dispensing valve will be dislodgedupon the build up of pressure within the package.

It should be understood that the self-sealing valve may be held in placewith any suitable device, such as a cartridge or other retaining device.Guides, which may assist in maintaining the axial orientation ofself-sealing dispensing valve with the other components of thedispensing valve closure.

Furthermore, it should be understood that seals that are applieddirectly to the package, and not carried by the closure, may also beused without degrading from the intended scope herein.

Having described specific preferred embodiments of the invention, itwill be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to thoseprecise embodiments and that various changes and modifications can beeffected therein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departingfrom the scope or spirit of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

1. A sealing and dispensing closure for an outlet opening of a containercontaining a consumable beverage, and comprising: a) a closure bodyadapted to be assembled to the outlet opening of the container, saidclosure body including a tubular spout of substantial height and whichis adapted to communicate with the outlet opening of the container andthrough which the liquid contained in the container is adapted to bedispensed, b) a self sealing dispensing valve which includes a marginalannular flange, and which is movable by either external or internalpressure on the container between a closed position and an openposition: and c) means mounting said self sealing dispensing valve belowsaid spout and including an inwardly facing annular surface below saidspout, with said marginal annular flange of said valve overlying saidannular surface, an annular shoulder below said spout, and an annularretaining ring supported by said annular shoulder below said spout andengaging the side of the marginal annular flange opposite the annularsurface.
 2. The closure as defined in claim 1, wherein the closure bodyfurther includes an internally threaded sleeve which is adapted to bethreadedly joined to the outlet opening of the container and which has apredetermined axial height, and wherein said spout has a height which atleast equals about one half the predetermined axial height of thesleeve.
 3. The closure as defined in claim 2, wherein the diameter ofthe spout is substantially less than the diameter of the threadedsleeve, and wherein the spout is coaxially joined to the threaded sleeveby means of a generally flat annular flange.
 4. The closure as definedin claim 3 further comprising a flexible liner positioned within thethreaded sleeve of the closure body for sealably engaging the outletopening of the container when the closure is threadedly assembledthereon.
 5. A container for containing and dispensing a consumablebeverage and comprising: a) a container having a flexible body portionand an externally threaded outlet opening, b) a sealing and dispensingclosure joined to the outlet opening of the container and comprising (i)a closure body which includes a tubular spout of substantial height andwhich communicates with the outlet opening of the container and throughwhich the liquid contained in the container is adapted to be dispensed,said spout having an internal bore which includes an inwardly facingannular surface and an annular shoulder spaced below said annularsurface, (ii) a self sealing dispensing valve mounted below said spoutand being movable by either external or internal pressure on thecontainer between a closed position and an open position, saidself-sealing dispensing valve including a marginal flange overlying saidannular surface, and (iii) an annular retaining ring supported by saidannular shoulder and engaging the side of the marginal flange oppositethe annular surface.
 6. The package as defined in claim 5, wherein saidoutlet opening of said container is externally threaded, and whereinsaid closure body includes an internally threaded sleeve which isthreadedly joined to the outlet opening of the container.
 7. The packageas defined in claim 6, wherein the threaded sleeve of the closure bodyhas a predetermined axial height, and wherein said spout has a heightwhich at least equals about one half the predetermined axial height ofthe sleeve.
 8. The package as defined in claim 7, wherein the diameterof the spout is substantially less than the diameter of the threadedsleeve, and wherein the spout is coaxially joined to the threaded sleeveby means of a generally flat annular flange.
 9. The package as definedin claim 5, wherein the self sealing dispensing valve is configured soas to assume a generally downwardly concave configuration which iswholly below the spout.
 10. A sealing and dispensing closure for anoutlet opening of a flexible container containing a consumable beverage,and comprising a closure body including an internally threaded sleevewhich is adapted to be threadedly joined to the outlet opening of thecontainer and which has a predetermined axial height, and a tubularspout extending axially outwardly from the threaded sleeve a substantialdistance and which is adapted to communicate with the outlet opening ofthe container and through which the liquid contained in the container isadapted to be dispensed, a self sealing dispensing valve mounted belowsaid spout, and which is movable by either external or internal pressureon the container between a closed position and an open position.
 11. Theclosure as defined in claim 10, wherein said spout has an axial heightwhich is at least about one half the predetermined axial height of thesleeve.
 12. The closure as defined in claim 10, wherein the diameter ofthe spout is substantially less than the diameter of the threadedsleeve, and wherein the spout is coaxially joined to the threaded sleeveby means of a generally flat annular flange.
 13. The closure as definedin claim 10, wherein the self sealing dispensing valve is configured soas to assume a generally downwardly concave configuration which iswholly below the spout.
 14. The closure as defined in claim 13, whereinsaid spout extends axially outwardly from the threaded sleeve a distancewhich is at least about one half the predetermined axial height of thethreaded sleeve.